LAZARUS RISES AGAIN

[crouching_tiger]

BLAKE Lazarus is hoping for an ounce of luck when he runs out for the Balmain-Ryde Eastwood rugby league team in this year’s NSW Cup competition.

The talented utility back has been touted the game’s “most unluckiest footballer” after sustaining season-ending knee injuries in trial matches before the start of both the 2008 and 2009 Cup series.

Lazarus will play half back or five eighth with Paul Fletcher’s Tigers outfit and is set to form a potent combination with either new recruit Arana Taumata or the skilful Darren Nicholls, who skippered the Wests Tigers’ U/20 side to a Grand Final appearance last season.

The Tigers open their 2010 campaign against traditional rivals Newtown in a heritage double-header this Saturday at Henson Park with a 5pm kick off.

Curtain-raiser will be the Western Suburbs v North Sydney clash at 3pm.

Fletcher again has an abundance of talent among his ranks led by punishing forwards David Gower, Al Schirnack, Jarred Farlow, hooker Ryan Carr, Luke McInnes, Matt Davidson and Loni Vunakece.

Impact players out wide include fullback Sean Meaney, utility backs Gavin Cowan and Matt Ryan, experienced winger Lee Bennett and the quicksilver Brett Lane.

Promising U/20 graduates David Fifita, Rhys Curran, Jason Schirnack and English recruit Mark Flanagan should bolster the pack while players of the calibre of Willie Mataka, Ben McDougall and Mitch Brown - all with NRL experience - add depth to a squad capable of emulating the deeds of 2009.

 

[Kul]

it will be VERY interesting to see if Lazo does play
anyone going to this?

 

[BRET]

I'll be there. And whispers are that he won't be playing today.

 

[Staks]

I'll be there. And whispers are that he won't be playing today.

You serious. One of the main reasons I was going!

 

[crouching_tiger]

You serious. One of the main reasons I was going!

Sheens knows how to screw us both at NRL and State Cup level. He made me drive all the way up to Gosford for the trial and then took Fitzy out as a "precautionary measure for round 1"…

 

[Guest]

Lazarus not playing today hey…Perhaps Benji's ankle isn't right...Or it's another Sheens smokescreen.

 

[Kul]

I'll be there. And whispers are that he won't be playing today.

let us know if he does

personally I find it odd that Sheens is even considering him as a cover

 

[crouching_tiger]

personally I find it odd that Sheens is even considering him as a cover

Why's that?

 

[fergiefurr]

Sheens could just be playing it ultra safe and ensuring he is fresh if needed. Coaches do it all the time.

 

[hybrid_tiger]

I am hoping it's Fitzhenry he'll be replacing and not Benji…

 

[Kul]

personally I find it odd that Sheens is even considering him as a cover

Why's that?

various reasons

- match fitness
- time absent from top level(s) league
- moltzen

good on him if he does play though.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

Lazarus is playing

BRET has a player sent off already due to backchat to a ref

26-18 Netown lead over BRET with 20mins remaining, BRET just scored

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

Its raining and Meaney made a mistake in the set from the kickoff, Newtown score during the next set.

It's now 30-18 (conversion missed) 17mins left, Newtown from the kickoff knock on, BRET scrum 20meters from Newtown line

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

12mins to go and BRET scored, Meaney converted it's now 30-24

very heavy wind and rain at henson park

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

10mins and BRET scored after a kick came off the crossbar and its 30 all

 

[Guest]

I'll be there. And whispers are that he won't be playing today.

Those whispers must have been chinese whispers. How did Lazarus go today?

 

[crouching_tiger]

How did Lazarus go today?

He just destroyed Newtown with class and brilliance. Pretty much set up most of their tries once again, kicked the winning field goal, and steered the team to a victory with one man down.
Well below par as expected.
But what do you expect from a kid whose had two years without hardly playing? Capable of much better..

 

[Balmain_Bug]

I left with some time left on the clock. I can not believe they won. Geez BRET have some talent there. They were so lazy in defence though at various stages.

Did the Fonz leave after the Wests game? I did not see him during the BRET game.

 

[Guest]

How did Lazarus go today?

He just destroyed Newtown with class and brilliance. Pretty much set up most of their tries once again, kicked the winning field goal, and steered the team to a victory with one man down.
Well below par as expected.
But what do you expect from a kid whose had two years without hardly playing? Capable of much better..

Sweet. What are your thoughts on Taumata after today CT?

 

[crouching_tiger]

How did Lazarus go today?

He just destroyed Newtown with class and brilliance. Pretty much set up most of their tries once again, kicked the winning field goal, and steered the team to a victory with one man down.
Well below par as expected.
But what do you expect from a kid whose had two years without hardly playing? Capable of much better..

Sweet. What are your thoughts on Taumata after today CT?

My thoughts of Taumata have always been exceptionally high onfield.
He got more involved today and played as a true 1st/2nd receiver on the right hand fringe with Lazarus on the left. Got heavily involved and was hard to stop around the ruck. Ultra quick off the mark and almost always able to push off the first defender and offload to create a much needed second phase play. IMO he needs more space, but that will be created when the forwards step up another level during the season.
Seems to have settled in a bit more comfortably with his new teammates and it's really showing. In saying this, he is lightyears ahead of Lui on current form..